My religious community has played a profound role on my development as an adult, the three guiding principals of Zoroastrianism: "Good Thoughts, Good Deeds, and Good Words" guide my actions daily. Being part of such a small community while heightening my sense of being has also made me more appreciative and understanding of other cultures & groups. For me understanding others has become a key component in understanding myself. My community has also enabled me to be a better communicator- as often times questions are asked regarding my ethnicity and religion where I can act as a spokesperson for the…
I had similar experience, which was explained in No.1, on the edge of entering. I was church shopping when I came to the USA 20 years ago. I went to almost every church in the town. I didn’t feel welcomed, most churches wanted to convert me to Christianity in spite of telling them I am a Christian. For most of them since I am from India I am a Hindu and I need to be converted to Christianity.…
I am driven religiously; my religion is my moral compass that directs the course of my life. For example, stealing is considered a sin therefore I will not commit the act because it infringes on my morality. I believe religion should be used to make yourself more ethical. I am proud to call myself a Shia Muslim.…
I was not used to being clueless. Just as for many teenagers, when I got my license a new world was open to me. This was certainly a world where I had more freedom, and I had to learn how to navigate it, in more ways than one. Learning how to communicate with my parents as an adult was not easy. My new found freedom came with the catch of proving to them that I would be responsible and reliable.…
I don’t hide behind a veil anymore. All my life I’ve been incredibly passive, never getting into much conflict and hiding how I actually am. I was relatively silent even with my friends until the end of my Freshman year of high school. Yes, I’d occasionally start a conversation or two with my classmates, but only if I had observed that they were friendly. Otherwise, it was as if my mouth had a jammed zipper on it, and it would only open after much effort.…
I was always telling stories, when I was a little girl. My parents would ask, “and then what?”, whenever it seemed one of my stories was coming to an end. This question encouraged me to find creative ways to prolong my stories. I am grateful to my parents for cheering me on in this way. I believe God has given me the gift of storytelling.…
Kali, Just took a look at your paper, everything looked fine. Very well written, nothing grammatically stood out to me. Everything flowed well, and the construction seemed well thought out. The only thing I would recommend is, look over the paper and make sure that the points you are making line up with the way they are said. That meaning if you are talking about Christianity, make sure you put the emphasis on what it has done for you, not what you can do for the faith.…
I believe in my life right now that I am in the stage of Personal Faith. The reason I believe I am in this stage is because I’ve had times where I doubt my faith and question certain beliefs. I believe I am in the Personal Stage of faith is because I no longer follow a crowd, I am comfortable in my own skin, my own beliefs, and actions. I have removed myself from the influence of others and groups. In my Personal Faith stage I also have become independent and take responsibility of my personal beliefs and actions.…
One giant group of Jewish teens singing and dancing our hearts out to some Jewish melody, some would call it weird or even stupid, but to me it’s home. When you only get to see your 2nd family 5 time a year, you cherish every moment you spend with them. To me youth group is more than just a place to learn about religion, it’s about a sense of community and the close bonds you share with each other after surviving another event on four hours of sleep. It’s the bonds that made me want to sit on a bus for 12 hours or get up at 4:30 in the morning. To me NFTY is more than just Judaism.…
My mother was born in Bahamas while my father was born in Haiti. My grandmother on my mother’s side is Haitian while my grandfather on my father’s side is Dominican. Our primary language is Creole however, my father can speak a bit of Spanish and Jamaican Patois. My grandparents were religious however my parents were not as religious and them. My grandmother on my mother’s side past away when I was young.…
The first time I had an extended experience with religion was during my first year of high school. Many of the students at Trinity were different than I was. They had gone to Catholic schools their entire life and had grown up with religion, which was not a lifestyle I was used to. As a child, a specific religion was never instilled upon me. Of course, the concept of morality and other teachings typically associated with religion, such as humility, were fundamental lessons in my household.…
When a warrior is fighting in a battle it is essential that he be provided with a shield to protect him from harms way. As college students it is crucial that we are carrying a shield of faith with us throughout our everyday lives, adding more layers to that shield, making it stronger. In Ephesians 6:16 it states, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” There is much wickedness that dwells throughout the world. We need to constantly have our shield of faith accessible, so we are prepared during the times we get pummeled with the evils of the earth.…
“I don’t wanna go to school mom!” “Jake, you have to” “But the kids and even the teachers hate me!” “Honey you just have to move forward and stay strong.” Ever since I moved to Petersville all my family got were mean glares.…
As I stepped through the door into the foyer of the Islamic Foundation, I was struck first by how incredibly out of place I felt. I had arrived in time for the afternoon prayer, the Asr, and found myself surrounded by the hustle of those finding a place to sit and wait for the service to begin. Unsure of where I needed to be, I inquired and was directed to the back of the prayer room to sit and observe the proceedings. As both members of the community and fellow classmates began to take their places in the prayer room, I began to take in my surroundings.…
I am thankful for all the experiences I’ve had in life. I’ve made mistakes in life and I am grateful to have learned from them. I am thankful for having supportive family and friends. I am grateful for good food, water, shelter, electricity, religion, health, peace, and happiness. Life is a miracle and worth being thankful…